The push to defeat Boko Haram

Also published in Daily Trust

Since the beginning of the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents, the performance of Nigerian military has fluctuated between dramatic exploits and mysterious relapse, which have understandably generated public commendation or condemnation accordingly.

The current round of stepped-up military offensive against the insurgents comes amid deepening sense of despair and frustration with the way the federal government is handling the crisis, which explains why Nigerians greet it with apparently cautious optimism instead of outright jubilation.

There are worries about the government’s commitment and the military’s ability or willingness to maintain the momentum and sustain the tempo attained. Many Nigerians worry that the current intense military offensive may also soon wind down and eventually relapse.

Free, fair elections haram!

Also published in Daily Trust

I did not write last Friday despite the controversial election postponement by the obviously coerced Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). I simply lost motivation to write and have ever since then been struggling to overcome a creeping sense of despair induced by the apparent motive behind such politically motivated, unwarranted, unjustified and indeed unjustifiable decision.

It is certainly part of a multifaceted and mischievous scheme designed to exhaust and frustrate the unprecedented momentum of the current political phenomenon that would, God willing, bring about the anxiously needed leadership change in the country. The aim is to ensure the continuity of the disastrous tenure of the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, by hook or by crook.

The ICC and Nigeria’s elections

Also published in Daily Trust 

Presumably worried by the rising pre-election tension in Nigeria, which could, if care is not taken, escalate into violence during or immediately after February 14 presidential election, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has indicated its readiness to send a team to Nigeria before the elections to, according to the Court’s prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, “further engage with the authorities and encourage the prevention of crimes.”

By the way, the Hague-based international court has already launched a preliminary probe into possible war crimes committed by Boko Haram insurgents and Nigerian troops in their ongoing war against the terror group. This is even though the ICC grapples with credibility issues as it is increasingly being seen as biased against poor and less influential countries especially in Africa, due to its real or perceived unwillingness to prosecute and/or convict many civilian, military and militia leaders of some influential countries allegedly responsible for war crimes and other crimes against humanity.

Sambo and the politics of Fatiha

Also published in Daily Trust

The widely circulated audio clip in which the vice president, Architect Muhammad Namadi Sambo was heard apparently incorrectly reciting the most famous, the most important, one of the shortest and arguably the simplest chapter in the Holy Qur’an i.e. the Fatiha, at Goodluck Jonathan’s presidential campaign rally in Kano, generated a barrage of satirical comments against him especially on social media.

I listened to the audio clip and, even though the chapter he recited has only seven short verses, I detected at least ten recitation errors that are serious and inexcusable, many of which do not only violate the basic rules of Qur’anic recitation but actually distort the meanings of the verses also.

Boko Haram and Nigeria’s Neighbours’ intervention

Boko Haram and Nigeria’s Neighbours’ intervention

Also published in Daily Trust

The recent military cooperation between neighbouring Chad and Cameroon to jointly raise combat troops with a view to hunting down Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria’s territory is a welcome development.

In fact, it is quite overdue in view of the inexcusable and embarrassing failure of Nigerian government to contain the insurgents’ continued conquests of towns and villages in Nigeria, let alone reclaim the conquered areas and/or crush the insurgents. Chad and Cameroun have always been affected by Boko Haram terror activities. Cameroon in particular has suffered from their recurrent intrusions into its territory.